Happy Birthday Jónsi

Today is the birthday of Jón Þór Birgisson, better known to his fans as Jónsi, the amazing solo artist, lead singer for the band Sigur Rós, and half of Jónsi & Alex, creative collaborators, as well as collaborators in life. Jónsi was born in Iceland in 36 years ago. By the time he was 20, he was fronting bands in his native country, sometimes more than one at a time. In 1994, he started playing with Sigur Rós, a bond that still exists today. They gained fame playing a certain type of post-rock, modern techno ambient music that was different than much of the music that was out there, becoming the darlings of many of the music critics. Their music was original and beautiful. Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa is an example of the music they made, as well as the intense videos as well.



Jónsi played with the band as an out and proud gay man, and when he started seeing Alex Somers, an artist in his own right, they quickly started collaborating on a variety of projects, from visual arts to music projects.



The first of the music projects was Riceboy Sleeps. It was released by Jónsi and Alex 2009, and this would be a great example of their work, Stokkseyri.



In 2010, Jónsi released his first solo album, Go. It includes some amazing music, much of it played by Jónsi himself. The single off the album was Go Do, an super song that makes me smile still, whether I am playing it on my iPod, or hearing it as part of an automobile commercial. Here is a live version of the song, played at the Wiltern Theater.



You can rent or buy the video for his live show at the Wiltern on iTunes here. it is incredible, and something I had to purchase, and am so very happy I did. YOu can find out more about him at this official website here. You can wish him a "happy birthday" on Twitter here, or purchase his solo debut or Riceboy Sleeps. I bet Jónsi would appreciate any of those options for a birthday present!

Live Music - Jónsi Live at the Wiltern

I was very excited to get the notice from Jónsi that the amazing out Icelandic artist was releasing a special live CD/DVD on iTunes available only in the US & Canada, taped at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, California, during his 2010 US tour. I didn't get the chance to see him live - although I would have loved it - so getting the chance to have a good quality video sounded perfect to me. Discovering the 14-song outing was available to download for less than $10, I was near giddy.




Needless to say, I had to scurry off to iTunes and download the video, which did take a bit of time, as it is 81 minutes of progressive bliss. It features live performances of all 9 songs from his solo album, Go, which I, of course, just love. Jónsi's music is so evocative, so moody, so wrought with tension, emotion, and joy, and the video proves the singer/songwriter delivers it all live. This is the song Go Do.



The following is a clip of one of my favorite songs, Boy Lilikoi, caught at the show by a fan. Both clips, one professional and the other amateur, give you a feel for the show, with the tremendous visuals, a feast for both the eyes and ears, just brilliant.



To get your own copy of the DVD, check out iTunes here. Remember, that is just for residents of Canada & the US. I purchased my copy, and have watched it more than once already, and certainly plan to watch it again and again.

New Video - Jonsi - Go Do

After reading the Tweets of some of my favorite musicians, ones I truly respect, I decided it was time for me to listen to the Jonsi album, Go. I didn't know a lot about Jonsi, save he was from Iceland, and out and proud gay man, and is the lead singer of the band Sigur Ros. I will admit to not being crazy about the band, and therefore was in no rush to buy the solo album. That was a mistake.



The album combines and alternative/experimental feel with some beautiful pop songs. Jonsi utilizes not on the trademark falsetto for which he is known, but also the lovely middle of his range. He is also comfortable mixing several world styles to at times create a amazingly beautiful cacophony of sound, the layered and textured sound melding with the softness of some amazing Pop-style music. His production can vary from sparse and melodic to dense and dramatic, sometimes in the same song.



The first single from the album is Go Do, employing what I discussed above. This is the video.

Official video to first single from Go.

For more about Jonsi, you can visit his website here. You can purchase the solo album on iTunes here, which I heartily recommend It is a true aural banquet, and, as Auntie Mame might say, 'most poor suckers are starving to death!' Feed yourself with this album.